Vasileios

Vasileios (died 1110), sometimes called Vasilius, was a general of the Byzantine Empire. He functioned as the Governor of Nicosia and Cyprus from 1080 until his death in 1110. Vasileios was killed in the Siege of Nicosia by the army of Alfonso VI of Castile.

Biography
Vasileios (Vasilius) was born in Asia Minor to an ethnic Greek family, servants to eh Byzantine Empire. Vasilius was stationed in Cyprus as magistrate of the stone castle of Nicosia, which was the main city there, along with Famagusta and Limassol. His people survived off of sea food such as the local fish and crabs. Cyprus was a well-managed Byzantine colony, with a thriving chain of naval ports.

In 1110, during the Crusade of 1103, Alfonso VI of Castile built an army of 14,500 troops and invaded Cyprus. The Castilians besieged Nicosia and took it by assault, and Vasilius was killed. Cyprus became a large Castilian colony until its future capture.